Customers, consumers and shareholders are increasingly demanding environmentally responsible products and services. They expect you to comply with environmental standards and demonstrate your commitment to the environment in the day-to-day operations of your company. Clients increasingly want proof of this commitment and following the BS 8555 guideline is your opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to eco-ethics.

BS 8555 provides an effective way for organizations to spread the costs of implementing a generic environmental management system. In addition to improved legal compliance, many of our clients report increased employee morale that results from knowing that you are environmentally aware. An SGS environmental management system (EMS) audit provides recognition and independent verification of your achievements and marks progress towards obtaining ISO 14001 and/or EMAS certification.

SGS’s global team of qualified lead auditors have the environmental, technical and regulatory knowledge to deliver the most meaningful and professional EMS implementation guides, which assist you in meeting your environmental objectives.

BS 8555 has six key phases, each of which has been divided into a number of key stages. If you choose BS8555 certification, your organization works towards achieving the criteria defined for each of the stages, which in turn form the basis of the inspection for each phase. Although the six phases must be completed in sequence, assessment can be either against a single phase at a time or against a group of phases. Completion of the sixth phases leads to registration against a recognized environmental standard (ISO 14001 and/or EMAS). The six phases of BS8555 include:

Establishing a baseline

Identifying and assuring compliance with legal and other requirements

Developing objectives, targets and programs

Implementation and operation of the EMS

Checking, audit and management reviews

Environmental Management System acknowledgement

Highly qualified SGS auditors do not turn audits into the simple filling-in of a checklist and checking of your document systems. They are trained the globally recognized 'SGS way' - they listen to you, while being objective and ethical at all times. Contact us to learn how you can improve your environmental footprint through adopting BS8555 with SGS.